Latest news with #Riga
Russia Today
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
EU state to prosecute MP for speaking Russian (VIDEO)
Latvia's State Security Service (VDD) has launched a criminal investigation against MP Aleksey Roslikov for speaking Russian at a parliamentary session last week. The lawmaker has been accused of 'providing assistance to the aggressor state' as well as inciting 'hatred' and 'sowing discord,' the agency said in a statement on Monday. On Thursday, Roslikov of the For Stability! party spoke out in parliament against a declaration that would effectively ban the use of the Russian language in public space in Latvia. The initiative is seeking to 'eradicate the consequences' of the alleged 'Russification' of the country, which authorities in Riga claim took place under Soviet rule from 1940 to 1991. Russian-speakers are an inalienable part of the Latvian society, Roslikov insisted, and criticized their growing marginalization. While he spoke in Latvian, he concluded it with a phrase in Russian, proclaiming: 'There are more of us, and Russian is our language.' 🇱🇻 Latvian MP Aleksejs Roslikovs has been expelled from parliament after criticizing a declaration on Soviet-era 'Russification' and concluding his speech in Russian. He warned of growing discrimination: 'What's next—banning Russian names?' Before walking out, he declared: 'We… He faces up to five years in prison if found guilty. Russian-speakers make up nearly a quarter of the Baltic country's population. The criminal case was initiated after the security service 'evaluated' Roslikov's speech as well as 'other recent activities,' the statement said. The VDD also said it had repeatedly 'warned' the lawmaker about 'potential criminal liability' for his actions. In late May, new parliamentary laws were approved, according to which MPs should only communicate in parliament in the official – Latvian – language. Roslikov's speech reportedly outraged many of his colleagues, as 63 MPs out of 100 instantly voted to expel him from the session. Describing the criminal case against him as 'bewildering,' Roslikov claimed he was defending a part of the Latvian population against 'persecution' under 'an absolutely criminal law.' He vowed to 'fight' and stated that he 'has no reasons to stop.' Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Latvia and its Baltic neighbors, Estonia and Lithuania, have intensified their collective stance against Russia. Riga has implemented travel restrictions targeting Russian citizens and banned vehicles with license plates from the country. It also introduced a mandatory Latvian language test for long-term residents of Russian origin. Hundreds who failed or refused the exam have been deported. The Kremlin has denounced the measures as 'blatant discrimination against Russians.'
Russia Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
EU state's parliament expels MP for speaking Russian
A Latvian MP has been kicked out of a parliamentary session and could face further punishment for speaking Russian in violation of the legislature's new rules, the head of the assembly has said. The incident occurred on Thursday during discussions in the Saeima on a declaration to 'eradicate the consequences' of the alleged 'Russification' of Latvia, which authorities in Riga claim took place under Soviet rule from 1940 to 1991. Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Latvia and its Baltic neighbors, Estonia and Lithuania, have intensified their efforts against alleged Russian influence. Riga has implemented travel restrictions targeting Russian citizens, banned vehicles with license plates from the country, and introduced a mandatory Latvian language test for long-term residents of Russian origin. Thousands who failed or refused the exam have been deported. The Kremlin has denounced the measures as 'blatant discrimination against Russians.' Aleksey Roslikov of the For Stability! party spoke out in parliament against the declaration being included on the agenda. The party represents the interests of Russian-speakers in the EU country, who make up 24.5% of its population, according to a 2021 census. The lawmaker criticized the growing marginalization of Russian speakers in Latvia, saying: 'What is next? A law prohibiting Russian names for children because they sound Russian?' Roslikov delivered his speech in Latvian, but concluded it with a phrase in Russian, proclaiming: 'There are more of us, and Russian is our language.' The MP then displayed an obscene gesture to the audience. The MP's behavior outraged many of his colleagues, who instantly voted to expel him from the session of the parliament. The move was supported by 69 out 100 members of the legislature. The speaker of the Saeima, Daiga Mierina, said that Roslikov had shown 'disrespect' to his fellow lawmakers and could face further punishment, including a ban on attending up to six more parliament sessions and a warning. In late May, the Saeima voted in new regulations, according to which the MPs should only communicate in the parliament in the official – Latvian – language. Roslikov later told the media he had no regrets, calling his outburst appropriate when someone is denied the right to speak their own language. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev shared the video from the Saeima on his page on X and praised the Latvian MP for standing up for the Russian language. On the eve of Russian Language Day, which is marked on June 6, 'decent people accessibly explained everything to the die-hard Russophobes in their native, Russian language,' Medvedev, who currently serves as deputy chair of Russia's Security Council, wrote.
Zawya
7 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
AirBaltic expands in Dubai, incresing flight frequcnies to Riga and Vilnius
Dubai. The Latvian airline airBaltic is further strengthening its presence in Dubai during the upcoming winter season (late October 2025 to late March 2026) by increasing flight frequencies to its home base in Riga (Latvia) with daily service and doubling its capacity to Vilnius (Lithuania) by offering four weekly flights. Mantas Vrubliauskas, VP Network Management at airBaltic: 'Following growing demand for our services between Dubai and the two Baltic capitals – Riga and Vilnius –, we are pleased to continue expanding our presence in Dubai. We will be the only airline offering daily service between Dubai and the Baltic States, providing our customers with greater flexibility. These direct flights will continue to be operated by the modern Airbus A220-300 aircraft, which will gradually be equipped with free high-speed SpaceX Starlink internet. Onboard, passengers can enjoy a high-quality service experience, customizable to their preferences before the flight.' Starting this winter season, flights between Dubai and Riga will operate every day with convenient flight times, allowing seamless connections within Latvia and onward to other destinations across Europe. Flights between Dubai and Vilnius will operate four times a week. Riga and Vilnius, the capitals of Latvia and Lithuania, offer the cultural and historical heritage of the Baltic region. Both cities experience four distinct seasons, providing opportunities to discover their architecture, traditions, and natural surroundings throughout the year. Riga is known for its Art Nouveau architecture and dynamic city life, while Vilnius features a UNESCO -listed Old Town and a strong cultural identity. On all its flights, airBaltic offers both Economy and Business class. Business Class passengers can enjoy a comprehensive full-service package, including priority check-in and boarding, a front-of-cabin seat with a free seat for added privacy, a gourmet meal perfectly paired with a curated selection of premium beverages, and quicker disembarking upon arrival. Throughout the flight, a dedicated Business Class cabin crew ensures exceptional service. The airBaltic fleet, one of the youngest in Europe, consists of a single aircraft type – Airbus A220-300. The airline currently operates 50 of such aircraft and aims to double in size. The aircraft offers an excellent flying experience, with benefits for passengers such as wider seats, larger windows, more hand luggage space in the cabin and improved lavatories, as well as better overall performance. Furthermore, the airline offers free high-speed SpaceX Starlink internet, making it the first European airline to provide this service. The entire fleet is planned to gradually be equipped with this service. airBaltic operates nearly 130 routes from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Tampere, and, seasonally, Gran Canaria, offering connections to a wide range of destinations in the airline's route network in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus region. A complete schedule of airBaltic flights and tickets are available on the company's homepage at About airBaltic: airBaltic (Air Baltic Corporation AS) is the leading airline in the Baltics and one of Europe's fastest-growing carriers. As a hybrid airline, it leverages the upsides of both traditional network and low-cost carriers. Through a network of nearly 130 routes from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, Tampere and, seasonally, Gran Canaria, airBaltic connects the Baltics with over 70 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus. Founded in 1995, today airBaltic operates one of Europe's youngest fleets, consisting of 50 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, and employs over 2 800 people. In February 2025, airBaltic became the first European airline to offer free high-speed SpaceX Starlink internet on its flights. The company is majority-owned by the Latvian state, which holds a 97.97% stake, with the remaining 2.03% owned by private shareholders. In January 2025, Lufthansa Group announced an investment in a minority stake in airBaltic, with the transaction expected to close in the second quarter of 2025. airBaltic's commitment to excellence is recognized by numerous prestigious awards, including being named the Best Airline in its region by Skytrax for three consecutive years. In 2023, APEX awarded the company the Passenger Choice Award for Best Cabin Service in Europe, and in 2024, airBaltic received the APEX Four Star Major Airline Award for its commitment to providing a high-quality travel experience. The same year, the airline was awarded the PROS AI Innovator Award for leveraging AI to drive transformative outcomes and optimize operations. In 2025, airBaltic made its debut in the global rankings compiled by Airline Ratings, which recognized it among the world's 50 safest airlines and included it in the list of the world's top airlines for 2025. For further information, please contact: airBaltic Corporate Communication Unit Air Baltic Corporation AS Email: pr@
Russia Today
02-06-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
EU state bars Russian property owners
Latvia has prohibited entry for Russian citizens who own real estate near strategically important sites in the country, citing national security concerns, local broadcaster TV3 reported on Monday. According to a statement from the Latvian State Security Service (VDD) cited in the report, a series of agency probes has identified risks emanating from Russian-owned properties near critical infrastructure. As a result, 'in several cases,' Russian property owners have been blacklisted and prohibited from entering Latvia. Latvian authorities are trying to limit purported Russian influence within its borders. A former Soviet republic, like Baltic neighbors Estonia and Lithuania, it has adopted an increasingly hardline stance against Moscow since the Ukraine conflict escalated in February 2022. Riga announced sweeping travel restrictions for Russian nationals, barred Russian-registered vehicles from entering the country, and introduced a mandatory Latvian language test for Russians, deporting thousands of those who refused to take it or failed. Riga has also moved to ban Russians from owning property. A bill presently before parliament aims to prohibit citizens of Russia and Belarus, as well as companies linked to them, from acquiring real estate in Latvia, citing potential threats to national security and circumvention of Western sanctions. Latvian Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis has cited 'a hybrid war' with Russia, and urged EU members prohibit the issuance of Schengen tourist visas to Russian nationals, alleging risks of sabotage. The three Baltic states, all NATO members bordering Russia, have also warned of potential invasion once the Ukraine conflict ends. Russia has repeatedly dismissed the warnings as 'nonsense' meant to scare the European population and justify increases in military spending. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova recently accused the Latvian authorities of 'blatant discrimination against Russians,' saying many of their policies were openly Russophobic. She said Russophobia had 'reached a new high' in the Baltics in recent years and warned that Latvia, in particular, would have to answer to the International Court of Justice if it continued with its discriminatory practices.
Globe and Mail
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
A Victorian home for two
451 Sackville St., Toronto Asking Price: $1,935,000 Taxes: $9,649.25 (2024) Lot Size: 17.37 by 115 feet Agents: Christian Vermast and Paul Maranger, Sotheby's International Realty Canada In the early 1990s, Nova Scotia native Shauna MacDonald moved to Toronto to pursue an acting career. 'It was a very deliberate and conscious move,' she said of her decision to steer clear of Los Angeles. 'I thought: 'I want to be a working actor, and I want it to be where I love – Canada. The work will come.'' Long before her first acting gig, Ms. MacDonald had developed a fascination with Russia. She studied at Montreal's McGill University, then spent a year at Leningrad State University before the breakup of the Soviet Union. After completing her studies at McGill, she landed back in a newly independent Riga, Latvia and strived to improve her fluency in Russian. 'It's an odd language to learn,' she acknowledged with a laugh. That facility with the language got her work on a film set in Riga, where she was captivated by the art of moviemaking. When a Hollywood actress was reluctant to travel across a bridge in an old Soviet car, Ms. MacDonald was tapped as a stand-in. 'There was no one from Antigonish who did anything like that,' she said. 'It was just magical.' In Toronto, Ms. MacDonald landed a role as a Russian psychic in the television series Earth: Final Conflict. Along the way, she also worked for a Russian firm as a translator and secretary. In the 2000s, she played the part of Constable Erica Miller in Trailer Park Boys and served as the 'promo girl' announcer for CBC Radio One. As she built her résumé, Ms. MacDonald purchased a cottage on Georgian Bay and began to think about buying a house in the city. By that time, she had formed a close friendship with the upstairs neighbour at her rental apartment in the west end. She floated the idea of purchasing a duplex together, and her friend agreed. Home of the Week: House in Halfmoon Bay hugs a rock cliff Another friend who worked in real estate suggested the two women consider Cabbagetown. The area around Carlton and Parliament streets has a Victorian-era streetscape and a vibrant culture that attracts people in the arts and creative industries. Ms. MacDonald was drawn to the sense of belonging and community, which reminded her of growing up in small-town Nova Scotia. She and her friend first saw a red-brick Victorian divided into upper and lower units in 2003. 'She's a beautiful house. It was love at first sight,' she said. 'It was also the first house we'd seen that was equally separated, so neither of us would have to sacrifice.' The pair submitted an offer for the semi-detached house, but it was rejected by the seller, who eventually pulled the listing. By 2004, they still hadn't found a house when 451 Sackville St. landed back on the market at a lower price. The two quickly struck a deal to buy the property and had a co-ownership agreement drawn up by a lawyer. Ms. MacDonald and her partner in homebuying soon immersed themselves in restoring the circa-1887 dwelling that the previous owner had used as an investment property. 'She had so much potential,' Ms. MacDonald said. 'The energy is so good in this house.' The semi provided 2,712 square feet of living space, including the basement, but the small, closed-in rooms and corridors felt cramped. The bathrooms and other rooms also had an 'eighties vibe' from previous renovations. The women decided that Ms. MacDonald would take the main floor and lower level so she would have access to the backyard for her two whippets. Her friend would live on the second and third floors. Cabbagetown was designated a Heritage Conservation District in the early 2000s, so any changes to the exterior of the house required a permit. Ms. MacDonald had a new front door made to replicate one of the original doors on the street. Today, residents and guests arrive to a shared vestibule. On the main floor, Ms. MacDonald had walls removed and the space opened up to bring light through the interior. The double living room with a wood-burning fireplace has a bay window overlooking the street. The dining room and kitchen are at the centre. At the rear, a bedroom has a sliding door to the deck and backyard. The lower level has a large bathroom and a storage room. Ms. MacDonald says her unit reflects her love of the arts and creativity. She also restored some of the heritage character with crown mouldings, a ceiling medallion and light fixtures. In the bathroom, she chose a claw-foot tub and vanity in keeping with the period of the house. The dining room with poppy-coloured walls has been the setting for many sessions with Ms. MacDonald's acting coach and mentor. When she co-wrote a film, 15 people at a time gathered to read scripts in the living room. Meanwhile, her friend renovated the upstairs unit in a more traditional style. We thought, 'let's have artsy downstairs and business upstairs,' Ms. MacDonald said. There's a living room at the front, a bedroom and bathroom at the centre, and an open kitchen with stainless steel appliances and a dining area at the rear. Stairs lead to a loft with a vaulted ceiling, which can serve as a bedroom or office. After a few years, Ms. MacDonald's friend moved on, and the actor purchased the other half of the property. Ms. MacDonald had tenants upstairs for several years. When the COVID pandemic put Toronto under lockdown, a musician friend moved into the upper unit. Singer-songwriter Wolfgang Webb wrote two albums in the upstairs loft, she said. 'It's a house that nurtures your artistry.' The two turned an upstairs room into a sound studio with acoustic panels, broadloom and foam padding. Ms. MacDonald performed auditions in the upstairs living room and recorded audiobooks in the studio. 'We were doing everything from home,' she said. 'Actors had to become camera operators, and I got a blue screen. I really had to up my game at home because the industry demanded it.' As Ms. MacDonald made improvements to the main floor, she decided to enlarge the tiny kitchen. 'I want a big kitchen – that's where people live,' she recalls thinking. 'It's like a Nova Scotian kitchen party.' She chose high-gloss black cabinets, red countertops, and black-and-white floor tiles. The room has been at the centre of holiday gatherings she bills as 'gays, strays and divorcées.' 'We would have 100 people on the main floor,' she said. 'They were legendary parties.'
